The funds, which will provide pump-priming investment for new and improved bus services, will be shared among 43 schemes across England. The aim of the funds is to boost local bus use.
Transport Minister Karen Buck said: “This is great news for bus users who will benefit from faster and more reliable services with better waiting facilities and improved journey experiences.
“Buses can offer inexpensive and flexible transport and can help tackle congestion by encouraging people out of their cars. This new funding demonstrates Government’s commitment to buses.
“The winning schemes demonstrate how local authorities can work with bus operators to develop viable schemes which are well integrated into existing public transport. They will also contribute to wider objectives like social inclusion and future local development.”
The list of successful schemes in West Midlands region is shown below:
2005 Kickstart Bus Competition
Authority Total CostTitle of Bid Approved
Warwickshire 445,449Service 767. A new bus service between Tamworth and Birmingham International Airport (BIA)/NEC via Kingsbury, Coleshill, Coleshill Interchange rail station.
Worcestershire 161,385Making the connection is designed to improve passenger transport access to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital from the Malvern-Worcester Corridor
The funds were awarded under the Kickstart Bus Challenge competition which gave local authorities, in partnership with operators, the opportunity to bid for funding to provide pump-priming funds for new improved bus services. The services which will be developed by operators and local authorities, all have the potential to achieve viability through patronage growth within no more than three years. The successful schemes were selected from a total of 117 projects submitted by 60 local transport authorities in England.
The Kickstart schemes were piloted in the 2003 Bus Challenge competitions when 18 schemes were awarded almost £8 million. Following the success of the Urban & Rural Bus Challenge between 1998-2003, the introduction of Kickstart is a new element which aims to pump-prime services which local authorities and operators have identified as having sufficient potential for patronage growth to become viable within a three-year period.
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Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
